Netherlands vs Spain Highlights: Merino scores as UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first leg ends 2-2

Netherlands vs Spain Highlights: Merino scores as UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first leg ends 2-2

Welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal between Netherlands and Spain, which was played at the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam.

Mikel Merino’s late equaliser saved the blushes for Spain as he restored parity going into the return leg, in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League 2024-25.

Huijsen tries a late shot on target from distance. Though the shot spurs the Dutch goalie into action, who makes a regulation save, the shot, after curling, was already going off-target.

Netherlands makes an immediate change in De Ligt replacing Depay, the present of Manchester United replacing that of the past as the hosts look to cling on to the slender lead.

Netherlands attacks against the run of play and Frimpong, tries to set up Simons on the far post. But the shot is ultimately blocked by Spain, with its defenders back just in time.

Spain attacks with combination play, with Olmo and Zubimendi pairing up in the box and the latter’s shot blocked for a corner kick, which is cleared by De Jong.

Frimpong gets the ball in the midfield and makes a run along the right flank. He tries to side-step Cucurella, his marker, but fails to get a way past him.

Morata and Yamal male way for Ayoze Perez and Oyazabal as De La Fuente looks for a way back in a match where his boys have been on the backseat for the most part.

Depay delivers a cross-field pass to Gakpo, from right to left, who then shifts to his right to launch a shot on target. Unai Simon meets it with equal quality to deny a third goal to the hosts.

Spain tries to wrest back control in the match with dominant possession but ever]y forward pass is being booed by the home fans, who know that their side is already on the driving seat.

Morata gets the ball rolling, with Spain playing from right to left, looking to find a leading goal, a way back up front from where Gakpo dethroned the visitors in style.

Spain gets a free-kick along the right. Yamal takes the kick, a left-footed curler. However, the ball flies way over the net, failing to cause the Dutch any trouble at all.

Pau Cubarsi looks to have picked up an injury and he walks off the field to be replaced by Dean Huijsen, who makes his international debut.

Spain is living dangerously as Simon makes another save to deny a leading goal to the Dutch. Koeman’s side is maintaining a high press, which almost delivered another result for the Men in Orange.

Netherlands tries to find an equaliser through set-pieces when Van Dijk tries to find the net from in front of the penalty box. But his attempt is just off-target and the Dutch have to go again.

Nico Williams gets the ball in the final third, passes to Cucurella, who crosses it to Morata in the centre. Morata’s header is just off-target.

Netherlands tries to attack on the counter but Spain’s zonal marking and the presence of mind of Unai Simon sees the ball end comfortably into the gloves of the goalkeeper.

Netherlands tries an early attack as men in orange storm into the Spain penalty box. Gakpo tries a shot from distance but the bal flies over the net, failing to create any real trouble for the visitors.

The match between Spain and Netherlands kicks off in Rotterdam. Spain has started in its away kit of all-yellow while the Dutch start in their traditional colours of orange.

The players of Netherlands and Spain line-up for the National anthems and the Dutch anthem, being the home side, is sung first, followed by that of Spain.

Netherlands hosts Spain in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals first leg at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on Thursday.

The Dutch finished second behind Germany in League A Group 3 with nine points, while the Spanish finished top of League A Group 4 with 16 points.

While Spain is the defending Nations League champion, Netherlands’ best finish came in the inaugural edition of the tournament when it ended as the runner-up after losing to Portugal in the summit clash.

The Luis de la Fuente-coached side’s sparkling group stage run in this tournament came after it clinched the European Championship in July last year.

Netherlands: Mark Flekken, Nick Olij, Bart Verbruggen, Mathijs de Ligt, Youri Baas, Jeremie Frimpong, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jorrel Hato, Jurrien Timber, Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Frenkie de Jong, Mats Wieffer, Ryan Gravenberch, Teun Koopmeiners, Tijjani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten, Kenneth Taylor, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Justin Kluivert, Noa Lang, Donyell Malen, Xavi Simons

Spain: Unai Simon, David Raya, Alex Remiro, Oscar Mingueza, Dean Huijsen, Pedro Porro, Robin Le Normand, Pau Cubarsi, Raul Asencio, Alex Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, Martin Zubimendi, Aleix Garcia, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Alex Baena, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Dani Olmo, Ayoze, Alvaro Morata, Bryan Zaragoza, Samu, Mikel Oyarzabal